Japan - RIKEN

Karolinska Institutet and RIKEN have an agreement on a short term student exchange program where RIKEN hosts doctoral students from KI for a period of 3 - 6 months.

International Program Associates (IPAs)

An International Program Associate (IPA) is a non-Japanese doctoral candidate attending a Japanese or overseas graduate school participating in RIKEN’s joint graduate school program. IPAs conduct research at RIKEN under the supervision of RIKEN scientists as part of work toward obtaining a PhD. RIKEN’s joint graduate school program is based on agreements with a number of Japanese and overseas universities and aims to identify and foster talented young scientists capable of contributing to the advancement of science for the global community.

Karolinska Institutet has a doctoral exchange agreement with RIKEN called “Short Term International Program Associate (IPA)”. This agreement enables KI PhD-students to spend between 3-6 months at RIKEN. Information about the application process and applications forms can be obtained from the RIKEN PIs who will be accepting the KI students.

Application and admission

Application documents are to be submitted to the Research Personnel Affairs Section by the RIKEN PIs who will be accepting the KI students. All applications should include confirmation from a RIKEN researcher stating that the researcher is willing to supervise the student during the student´s stay at RIKEN. RIKEN PIs and KI professors should discuss the candidates´ research proposals in advance. After approval by RIKEN, the Research Personnel Affairs Section will officially notify KI on the acceptance of successful IPA candidates on a case-by-case basis.

Calls for applications are issued in April and in October each year. The evaluation process takes about four weeks and the PhD-student can start the exchange at the earliest five months after the application has been handed in.

Support from KI

Two KI PhD-students can get the airfare (1 round-trip ticket) covered by a travel allowance of a maximum of 10 000 SEK from the Board of Doctoral Education. The selection will be on a first –come and first –serve basis.